Knitting machine



Dec. 2, 1930.

J. L. SUTPHEN KNITIING MACHINE Filed JulyZl, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIII: 5

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His ATTORNEY 2, 1930- .1. L. SUTPHEN 1,783,202

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1930. J N I 1,783,202

KNITTI NG MACH;

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KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 511" mum) "Mn AU JVEEHL E6 WITNESSES" I INVENTOR Jafilz L. lsugzkem v Y. M 11 1.9 ATTORNEY Z2 .5. L. SUTPHEN KNITTING MACHINE 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Filed July 21 WET $555555 Dec. 2, 1930 J. L; SUTPHEN KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet fi L 1 PM 1 a M; 2 1 5 w a 7:: l I 1 1w ww 3 48 L1, 1 8. X 67 im 1N TOR EECEYNEfiSES fil5' AT 1" ORNEY Dec. 2,1930. J. L. SUTPHEN KNITTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-fines 7 Filed July 21, 1925 I/I/YTA E55E5i INVENTOR .jfllili L. am/yam 5 ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1930. Y T HEN.

KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 21. 1925 a snu'is-sn' et 8 W1TNE55E5. INVENTOR .lalzzL, 5a! 0 I I BY M81 46 0 9 v l atcnted Dec. 2, I930 PATENT OFFICE JOHN L. SUTPHEN, OF PHILADELPHIA,

WILLIAMS, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

KNITTING Application filed July 21,

This invention relates to mechanism whereby the ordinary circular knitting machine may be adapted for knitting split-foot hosiery.

Hosiery knitted by the ordinary circular knitting machine has floating threads across the front of the ankle and across the instep of the stocking which, when cut, leave loose and frayed ends at the junction of the front and rear part of the ankle and the instep and sole. These loose ends work their way to the outer side of the stocking and impart an unfinished and unplensing appearance. Machines, known as split-foot machines, are in use which knit stockings without the floating threads but, in order to-produce the splitfoot stocking, a manufacturer who is using the ordinary circular machine must install the costly split-foot machines.

The primary object of my invention is to provide mechanism of inexpensive construction which may be applied to the ordinary circular knitting machine to adapt it for knitting split-foot stockings.

These. objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figurel is a fragmentary plan view, partly diagrammatic, of a circular knitting machine having parts of my attachment applied thereto,

Figure 2 a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the parts in another position,

Figure 3 a perspective view of certain elements which form a part of my invention,

Figure 4 an elevation partly in section of elements which form a part of my invention,

Fig. 5 is a development showing the position of needles and the main knitting cams near the end of the rotary knitting for the Fig. 6 is a similar view of another part of the cams, showing the auxiliary cams, at the end of a forward stroke of reciprocal knitting,

Figure 7 a fragmentary central section through the upper part of the cylinder of a PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 SCOTT &

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS MACHINE 1925. Serial No. 44,976.

circular knitting machine showing certain elements of my attachment applied thereto.

Figure 8 a View similar to Figure 7 illns t-rating the parts in another position,

Figure 9 an elevation looking in the direction of'the arrow in Figure 7,

,Figure 10 a section on line 1010 of Figure 8,

Figure 11 a side view of the sinker cam shown in Figure 1.0,

Figure 12 a side view of the gap closure shown in Figures 7 and 8, and

Figures 13 and 14 perspective views of elements which form a part of my invention.

The ordinary circular machine has a cylinder l, a set of knitting cams 2, hereinafter called the fixed knitting cams, a series of short butt needles 3, a series of long-butt needles 4:, pickers 5 and 6, respectively, for lowering and lifting the short-butt needles while knitting the heel and the toe, a switch cam 7 of and into action before and after knitting the heel and toe, means at F, Figures 7 and 8, for feeding yarn to the needles and mechanism, not shown, for causing the cylinder to rotate during certain operations, and to reciprocate during other operations. In use the cylinder is rotated for knitting the leg, reciprocated for knitting the heel, rotated for knitting the sole, and reciprocated for knitting the toe.

For adapting such machines for knitting split-foot stockings I provide a set of knitting cams 8, movably mounted on the frame adjacent the cylinder, and adapted to actuate the long butt needles only, and with a pair of inclined cams 9, movably mounted on the frame, adapted to free the long butt needles from the domination of the fixed cams. The movable cams are designed to be operative during the reciprocatory movement of the cylinder only, that is, for effecting knitting of the ankle part of the stockin and the sole. During the last revolution of the cylinder, when finishing knitting the leg of the stocking, cams 9 are moved into the path of the long butt needles thereby raising and causing them to pass above the fixed cams 2 without knitting. After the last long butt needle for shifting the long-butt needles out has passed knitting cams 8, then in idle position, the cylinder begins its reverse movement to knit the ankle part of the stocking, that is, it starts to reciprocate and knitting cams 8 are moved into the path of the long butt needles, that is they are moved from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2. The long butt needles will then be actuated for knitting by cams 8, and the short butt needles for knitting by fixed cams 2. When earns 8 and 9 are in active position, the fixed knitting cams will actuate the short butt needles but not the long butt needles, and movable knitting cams 8 will actuate the long butt needles but not the short butt needles.

The usual devices of the machine im roved for changing the motion of the nee le cylinder from rotation to reciprocation are of course resorted to, and reciprocatory movement is begun whenever it is desired to knit split work, as mentioned, above the ankle portion of the stocking and continued through the heel, sole and toe knittin The yarn fed t9 the long butt needles by a finger 10 when the first lon butt needle, which travels in the direction the light arrows, has reached the highest point of one of the side cams of the set of movable knitting cams 8. Finger 10 is then swung into position to feed the yarn to the long butt needles so that the yarn passes between the short butt needle 11 and the long butt needle 12. As finger 10 brings the yarn to the needles, a sinker cam 13 is lowered into action to actuate sinkers 14. Sinker cam 13 forces the sinkers out of the way while the long butt needles iare knitting, and returns them to hold the work after the knitting is completed. A fixed cam 15, disposed opposite sinker cam 13, forces the sinkers out of the way while the short butt needles are knitting, and returns them when the knitting is completed.

After the ankle part of the stocking is knitted and the last long butt needle has received its thread, finger 10 is swung upward out of the way while the heel is being knitted. Cams 7 are then brought into action to raise the long butt needles so that they will be out of the way and cams 8 and 9 are moved out of action to the position shown in Figure 1. Pickers 6 and are permitted to operate, as usual, at appro riate times to fashion a. heel or toe pocket by bringing the needles into and out of action during the knitting of the heel. After the. heel is knitted, arms 5 and 6 are swung out of the way to the position shown in Figure 2. Cams 8 and 9, finger and sinker cam 13, arethen actuated for knitting the sole and instep of the stocking and their movements are the same as the movements for knitting the ankle part of the stocking. When sole and instep are knitted and the tee is to be knitted the movements imparted to the arms 5 and 6, cams 7, 8 and 9, finger 10 and sinkers 13 for knitting the toe are identical with those imparted when knitting the heel. After the toe is knitted cams 8 and 9, finger 10 and sinker cam 13, which were before moved out of action, will remain out of action and pickers 5 and 6 will be moved out of the way to the position shown in Figure 2. The automatic controlling mechanism will then efi'ect rotation of the cylinder at the proper time to knit the leg part of another stocking.

The mechanism for imparting movement to cams 8 and 9, finger 10 and sinker cam 13 may be varied to suit different types of circular machines. The mechanism shown is iijpplicable to the type built under expired nited States Letters Patent to J. D. Hemphill, No. 933,443, dated September 7, 1909, and will now be described.

Each cam 9, see Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, is fixed to a plunger 16 slidable in a bracket 17 against the action of a spring 18. A notch 19, in the lunger, receives a stop 20 pivoted to the Eracket at 21 and held in the notch by a spring 22 connected to the end of the stop and the bracket. A vertical push pin '23, in the bracket has its upper end engaging under sto 20 and its lower end engaged and moved y a lever 24 pivoted to the bracket. The lever is swung by an arm 25 fixed to a shaft 26. The parts 16 to 25 are identical for both cams 9. Arms 25 are fixed to shaft 26 which has a crank 27 connected by a link 28 with a lever 29 which is connected with and moved by a rod '30 actuated by cam segments 31 on a drum 32. This drum is mounted on the regular drum shaft of the circular knitting machine. The mechanism just described re leases plunger 16 and allows cam 9 to be moved out of action by spring 18.

Each plunger is inoved into action by a bell crank lever 33 pivoted on bracket 16 and having one arm engaging the plunger and the other arm engaging the extension 34 of a lever having a pivoted. rod 35 which receives vertical movement from a cam segment 36 on drum 32.

The effect of moving the cams 9 into action is to deflect any long butt needles reaching them to travel idly above the main knitting it.

cams 2, in which position the needles have their last knit loops upon their shanks, and impose no stress on these loops tending to enlarge them or strain the yarn. The deflecting cams 9 thus operate to pass the long butt needles by the main knitting cams without any consequent change in the fabric knit on these long butt needles, and without having to rovide any unusual devices in or at the main knitting cams which could result in altering their regular and uniform operation in either direction of knitting on either series of needles when they are so used.

Cams 8 are mounted on a slide 27, Figs. 1 and 2, slidable in a guideway 38 on the frame and connected with one end of a lever 39, Figs. 1, 2 and 13, the other end of which is connected to the frame by a spring which normally keeps the cams out of action. Lever 39 is movedagainst the action of spring 40 by a. bell crank lever 41 having one end abutting lever 39 and its other end connected by a link with a lever 42 connected by a rod 43 with another lever 44 which is actuated by a cam segment 45 on drum 32. The mechanism just described moves the set of cams 8 into and out of position to operate the long-butt needles.

The yarn feeding finger 10 for reciprocal knitting on the long-butt needles, see Figures 7, 8 and 9, is pivoted on a bracket 46 supported in relatively fixed relation to the usual latch guard ring L of the machine, from bed plate A, for example, and is moved into action by a spring 47 connected with the finger and the bracket. The finger 10 is moved out of action by an extension 48 on a sliding member 49. As shown, the sliding member has a pair of guide-rods 50, one stationary and one slidable in the bracket 46 to keep member 49 in proper position. Member 49 is moved downward by a spring 51 connected with it and bracket 46. An extension 52 on one of the rods is engaged by a vertical plunger rod 53 on one end of a lever 54 which has its other end abutting one end of a second lever 55, the other end of which is connected to and moved by a rod 56 which receives its movement from a cam segn'ient. 57 on drum 32. Drum 32 receives intermittent movement at different periods of the cycle of before the cylinder reverses, is utilized to bring the finger from the full line position shown in Figure 7 to the dot-and-dash line position. The finger and the associated mechanism are held in this position by a latch 58 pivoted on member 49 and held in engagement with a pin 59 on the bracket by a spring 66. The lower end 61 of the latch is adapted to be engaged by a tripping member 62 adjustably mounted on cylinder 1. When finger 10 is swung to the dot-and-dash line position, the end 61 of the latch is lowered into the path of tripping member 62 so that when the cylinder reverses itsmovement the triping member will engage end 61 and release the latch from pin 59 and allow the yarn finger operating slide 48, 49, 50 for finger 10 to be moved into operativeflpositionby spring 47.

Sinker cam'13 is mounted on a pair of rods 63, Figs. 7, 8 and 11, slidable in a bracket 64 on sinker cam ring S and normally held in its operative position by a spring 65.

block 66 fixed to the upper ends or rods 63 has an extension 67 which is engaged and moved by one end of a lever 68 pivote'd on bracket 46. The other end of the lever is connected by a rod 69 with one end of lever 70, the other end of which is actuated by a second lever 71 against the action of a spring 72 connected with lever and bracket 46. Lever 71 is moved by a rod 73 which receives movement from a cam segment 74 on drum 32. \Vhen rod 73 is raised lever 68 'will release extension 67 and allow spring 65 to .move the sinker cam 15 downward into operative position.

In order to allow the sinker cam 13 to come into operative engagement with the sinker butts, I provide short butt sinkers 75 for the short butt needles and long butt sinkers 76 for the long butt needles so that, when the long butt needles are about to enter the set of knitting cams 8, the long butt sinkers will engage sinker cam 13, which has been lowered and is resting on the short butt sinkers, and will be moved by the sinker cam away from the fabric. After the short butt sinkers have passed from under the sinker cam, the sinker cam drops to its lowermost position as shown in Figure 8. By providing long and short butt sinkers, I am enabled to bring the sinker cam into action by lowering it on the short butt sinkers.

Each narrowing picker 6 is normally held out of the way by a slidable rod 77 pivoted to a crank 78 on a shaft 79. One of the cranks is in the form of a bell crank lever which is connected by a link 80 with a lever 81 which receives movement from a cam segment 82 on drum 32.

To prevent the latches of the needles from getting caught in a recess 83, in which the finger 10 is positioned when feeding yarn to the needles-I provide, Figs. 7 8 and 12, a gap closure 84 normallyheld in the recess and flush with the inner face 85 of the machine frame by a. spring 86 connected to an arm 87 on the gap closure and a screw on the taut so that it cannot be accidentally pulled out of finger 10. This, referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 13, may result from the operation of a pair of ripping jaws 88, for gripping the ',yarn there etween, one of which is lined with leather 89. ,The jaws are preferably integral with a air of levers 91 which are pivoted at 92 to a racket 93 on the latch guard ring L above the space'within the needles. These levers 91 may be connected to each other by a spring or, as shown, one lever may be fixed to the bracket and the other lever held against the fixed lever by a spring 94. One end of a cam operating lever 95 is adapted to move between levers 91 to separate them and cause the jaws to open. This lever is pivoted on a suitable bracket on ring L and is connected through link 96, lever 97 and link 98 to a lever 99 which receives movement from a camsegment 100 on drum 32. Shearing blades 101 are preferably secured to the jaws 88 so that the thread, as it is gripped between the jaws, will be cut from the fabric. To guide the thread between the jaws as the fabric rotates, I provide a guide plate 102 of such curvature that the thread will pass between the jaws as the fabric rotates.

' While the cam segments are illustrated as being mounted on a common drum 32, separate drums may be used and suitably geared for moving the mechanism of the different elements.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a knitting machine, a cylinder carrying knitting needles; a finger for feeding yarn to the needles; tripping mechanism for holding the finger out of operative position; mechanism for bringing the tripping mechanism to tripping position when the cylinder rotates in one direction, and means on the cylinder adapted, when the cylinder rotates in the opposite direction, to actuate the tripping mechanism to allow the finger to move into operative position.

2. In a knitting machine, a cylinder carrying knitting needles; a pivoted finger for feeding yarn to the needles; a member adapted to hold the finger out of operative position; a latch on said member; a fixed part on the frame of the machine adapted'to be engaged by the latch when said member is brought to trippin position; mechanism for bringing said mem er to tripping position as the cylinder moves in one direction, and means on the cylinder for tripping the latch to release the member and allow the finger to swing into operative position when the cylinder moves in the opposite direction.

3. In a knitting machine, a cylinder carrying knitting needles; a pivoted finger for feeding yarn to the needles; a member adapted to hold the finger out of operative position; a latch on said member; a fixed part on the frame of the machine adapted to be engaged by the latch when said member is lowered to tripping position; mechanism for bringing said member to tripping position as the cylinder moves in one direction; means on the cylinder for tripping the latch to release the member when the cylinder reverses its movement, and resilient means for moving the finger to the operative position.

4. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylinder carrying needles; a ring frame member surrounding the needles and having a recess in its inner face; a pivoted finger adapted to be swung into the recess to feed yarn to the needles, and a springpressed pivoted member mounted on the frame member and adapted to be moved outwardly into the recess by the finger when in operative position and to automatically move toward the center of the machine to fill and close the recess when the finger moves out of the recess.

5. In combination in a circular knitting machine having a cylinder carrying needles, a ring frame member surrounding the cylinder and having a recess in its inner face; a pivoted finger adapted to be swung into the recess to feed the yarn to the needles; a gap closure pivoted in the recess and adapted to be engaged and swung therein by the finger when moved in a plane radial to the center of the ring to operative position, and resilient means for swingin the gap closure in the direction of motion of the finger out of the recess to close the same when the finger moves out of the recess.

6. In a circular knitting machine having a cylinder carrying needles, main knitting cams, and other cam means for establishing and extinguishing a wave of knitting motion in a segment of said needles, a finger for feed ing yarn to and withdrawing yarn from the needles of said segment, gripping jaws adapted to hold the free end of the yarn passing through the finger; shears carried by the jaws for cutting the yarn from the knitted work as it is gripped by the jaws; means for opening and closing the jaws and shears to grip and cut the yarn when the finger is in the ino ierative position, and a guide plate for guiding the yarn between the jaws and the shears as the cylinder rotates.

7. A knitting machine for knitting split tubular fabrics having therein in combination a needle carrier and series of needles therein adapted to knit different segments of a tubular fabric, a cam carrier and main knitting cams normally operative upon all of the needles, and means for feeding yarn to knit at the main knitting cams during circular and during reciprocatory knitting, auxiliary knitting cams adapted to be moved into operative relation with needles of one of said segments only to move them to knit during reciprocatory knitting only, means for deflecting all of the needles of said segment above the main knitting cams during reeiproing long butts and short butts respectively catory knitting, means for entering and Withdrawing yarn to feed a knitting wave in the needles actuated bv the auxiliary cams and means for coordinately moving said. auxiliary cams and said needle deflecting means into therein adapted to knit different segments of a tubular fabric, a cam carrier and main knitting cams adapted for reciprocating knit-ting and normally operative upon all of the needles, means for feeding yarn to knit at the main knitting cams during circular knitting, auxiliary knitting cams adapted to be moved into operative relation with needles of one of said segments only during reciprocal knitting, means for deflecting all of the needles of said segment above the main knitting cams in both directions of movement, means for entering and withdrawing yarn to feed a knitting wave in the needles actuated by the auxiliary cams, and means for coordinately moving said auxiliary cams and said needle deflecting means into operative relation with and entering the yarn to knit on the needles of one of said segments at a change from relative circular to relative reciprocal motion between said needle and cam carriers.

9. A. knittingmachine for knitting split tubular fabrics having therein in combina tion a needle carrier and series of needles having long butts and short butts respectively therein adapted to knit different segments of a tubular fabric, a cam carrier and main knitupon all of the ting cams normally operative needles, and means for feeding yarn to knit at the main knitting cams during circular and during reciprocatory knitting, auxiliary knitting cams adapted to be moved into operative relation with needles of one of said segments only, cams on each side of the main knitting cams adapted to be positioned to deflect long butt needles adapted to be operated to knit by the auxiliary cams above the main cams, whereby these needles are elevated at passage between said deflecting cams and thereby prevented from. knitting at the main cams, and means for coordinately moving said auxiliary cams and deflecting cams into operative relation with and entering the yarn to knit on the needles of one of said segments. a

10. knitting machine for knitting split tubular fabrics having therein in combination a needle carrier and series of needles havtherein adapted to knit different segments of a tubular fabric, a cam carrier and main knitting cams normally operative upon allof the needles, and means for feeding yarn to knit at the main knitting cams during circular and during reciprocatory knitting, auxiliary knitting cams adapted to be moved into operative relation with needles of one of said segments only, movable cams adapted to deflect the long butt needles in either direction of motion, idly above the main knitting cams, means for moving said deflecting cams into operative contact with the long butt needles at change of relative motion of said needle and cam carriers from rotation to reciprocation, means to detain said deflecting cams in place, and means for releasing said detaining means, means for entering and withdrawing yarn to feeds. knitting wave in the needles actuated by the auxiliary cams, and means for coordinately moving said auxiliary cams into operative relation with and entering the yarn to knit on the needles of one of said segments.

11. In a knitting machine having aneedle carrier and long butt and short butt segments'of needles therein, a cam carrier and main knitting cams thereon adapted to operate all of the needles, auxiliary knitting cams and means for moving them into contact with long butt needles only, elevating and depressing deflecting cams for carrying the long butt needles idly above the main cams at opposite sides of the main cams and means for moving said deflecting cams into contact with the long butt needles coordinately with operation of the means for moving said auxiliary cams into contact withthe long butt needles.

12. In a knitting machine having therein a needle carrier, and series of needles therein, a cam carrier and main stitch cams adapted for rotary knitting on all of said needles and reciprocatory knitting on one series of said needles, yarn guide means for feeding yarn to needles actuated by said stitch cams, and means causing at times relative rotary and at times relative reciprocatory motion between said needles and said cams for stocking knitting, the combination of means acting automatically to initiate and end knitting at an auxiliary wave of motion for knitting in the other series of said needles during reciprocatory motion including means for feeding yarn to needles so moved, auxiliary knitting cams adapted to be moved into and out of coaction with one series of the needles, the means for initiating and ending knitting by reciprocatory motions with the aid of said on needles of one only of said series to make a heel or toe, and comprising means for deflectingneedles of the other series above the main stitch cams.

In testimony whereof I have signed my I name to this specification.

' -JOHN L. SUTPHEN. 

